Parapan Am Games

WHITBY -- Logan Sullivan,3, gave boccia a try at the one-year countdown celebration at the Abilities Centre for the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games. August 9, 2015

Parapan Am Games

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland

WHITBY -- Logan Sullivan, 3, gave a high-five to Moe Hasham, with the Pan Am Games committee, after giving boccia a try at the one-year countdown celebration at the Abilities Centre for the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games. August 9, 2015

WHITBY -- Dignitaries and volunteers involved in the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games gathered at the Abilities Centre in Whitby recently to mark the one-year countdown to the event.

Headed by organizing committee CEO Saad Rafi, the group toured the Abilities Centre at 55 Gordon St., where Parapan judo and boccia events will be held during the Parapan Games Aug. 7 to 15, 2015.

Special performances from local artists -- including the Whitby Brass Band -- were a part of Saturday’s countdown celebrations, as were free activities for kids and demonstrations of the sports that will be featured during the Games next summer.

Mr. Rafi says it’ll be nice to have such a state-of-the-art facility like the Abilities Centre on display during the Games.

“We are very, very lucky to have this jewel (of a facility) be a part of the Games,” said Mr. Rafi, in addressing the crowd that came out for the countdown celebration.

The Games, in terms of size, will stand head-and-shoulders above previous Parapan Games and, in addition to that, will serve as a potential springboard for many athletes looking to make an impact at the highest level of sport.

“You’ll have 1,600 athletes here (in Whitby),” he said. “It’ll be the largest Parapan Games ever held. We will be able to showcase not only the volunteers and venues but these fierce, fierce competitors and athletes who will not only being going after medals of course, but they’ll also be chasing qualification for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” says Mr. Rafi.

The Abilities Centre is one of more than 30 venues located in 16 municipalities across southern Ontario that will be a part of the Games.

It’s one of three venues located in Durham Region. The General Motors Centre in Oshawa is set to host Pan American Games boxing events, while President’s Choice Ajax Pan Am Ballpark on Audley Road will be the site for all baseball and softball events.

Former Parapan athlete David Van Hoek was on hand for Saturday’s celebration and urged people to get involved in the Games any way they can.

“I encourage you to get involved,” he said. “It will be worth it.”

The Pan Am Games run from July 10 to 26, 2015, followed by the Parapan Games. Combined, it will be the largest international multi-sport event ever held in Canada.

For more information or to register as a volunteer, visit TORONTO2015.org/join-in.